Is Nutella Allowed at Nut-Free Schools?
Nutella is a beloved chocolate spread that many parents add to their children’s lunches so they can have a sweet treat. It is sweet, creamy, and chocolatey. However, is Nutella allowed in nut-free schools?
Nutella is not allowed in nut-free schools because it contains hazelnuts. Nut-free schools don’t allow nut products on campus so they can protect students who are allergic to nuts. Hazelnuts fall under the nut-allergy umbrella, although the most common nut allergy is peanuts.
Nutella is delicious, but it is important that you are aware of why you can’t bring it into nut-free schools. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious chocolate spread with your lunch or add it to your child’s lunch. A few Nutella alternatives are listed below.
Why Can’t I Bring Nutella to Nut-Free Schools?
You can’t bring Nutella into nut-free schools because it contains hazelnuts, which is a tree nut that can cause people to have allergic reactions of varying severity. Nut-free schools want to ensure that all of their students, even those who are allergic to nuts, are in a safe environment where they don’t have to worry about what other people’s food contains.
Products with the following nuts can’t be brought to nut-free schools.
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Cashews
- Macadamia nuts
- Brazil nuts
- Pine nuts
If you want to know what your school’s nut policy is and what nuts they allow on campus, go to their website.
Although you can’t bring any foods that contain any of these nuts to a nut-free school, including Nutella, you can bring foods that have been made in a factory that manufactures other products that contain nuts. However, you need to make the teachers aware of the food you are eating so students with nut allergies can be aware of it and don’t ask to eat it.
Does Nutella Have Peanuts In It?
Nutella does not have peanuts or peanut products in it. It is made in a different section of the factory as products that have peanuts in them. (Source)
However, that doesn’t mean that Nutella is made in a peanut-free factory. If you are allergic to peanuts but not hazelnuts and want to eat Nutella, eat a small amount of the chocolate spread at first.
Have your EpiPen or allergy medication nearby, just in case you are allergic to its ingredients. If you don’t have an allergic reaction to Nutellas after 30 minutes, feel free to eat as much Nutella as you want.
Nutella Alternatives
Although you can’t bring Nutella to nut-free schools, you can still enjoy a chocolatey treat that tastes similar. Below are 5 Nutella substitutes that are nut-free.
Don’t Go Nuts Roasted Soybean Chocolate Spread
Don’t Go Nuts Roasted Soybean Chocolate Spread is considered one of the best, if not the absolute best, Nutella alternatives that are completely nut-free. It is so popular that it is currently out of stock everywhere, even on the manufacturer’s website. When it is in stock, you can purchase two 16 oz containers for $13. This spread also comes in Simply Cinnamon, Lightly Sea Salted, Slightly Sweet, Pure Unsalted, and a variety pack.
Soom Foods Chocolate Tahini Halva Spread
The Soom Foods Chocolate Tahini Halva Spread is rated 4.8 stars on Amazon and a pack of two 12 oz containers costs $17. This chocolate spread is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and nut-free. It only has 3 ingredients: Soom Tahani, cocoa powder, and powdered cane sugar.
Although it doesn’t taste exactly like Nutella, as it is extremely hard to replicate the taste without including hazelnuts in the recipe, this is a great nut-free alternative that can be consumed by people with other dietary restrictions and food allergies.
Oat Haus Organic Chocolate Granola Butter
The Oat Haus Organic Chocolate Granola Butter costs $13 and is said to taste like brownie batter, which some may argue is even better than Nutella. If you love brownie batter, but don’t want to worry about eating food with raw eggs in it or find an egg-free recipe, this product is for you.
It is nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan. However, it does contain coconut oil, so if you are allergic to coconuts you shouldn’t consume this product. If you don’t want a chocolate spread, Oat Haus also sells plain granola butter, vanilla, strawberry shortcake, and blueberry granola butter.
SunButter Chocolate Spread
The SunButter Chocolate spread costs $14 for a 16 oz jar, which is quite expensive for a seemingly simple chocolate spread, but many people love it. It has 6 grams of protein and only 3 grams of sugar in it. It isn’t safe for all nut allergies, but it doesn’t have any hazelnuts or almonds in it.
Beyond the Equator 5 Seed Butter
The Beyond the Equator 5 Seed Butter chocolate spread costs $13 for one 16 oz jar. It has 5 different seeds in it, but it doesn’t contain any nuts, so you or your child can bring it in their lunch if they go to a nut-free school. It is dairy-free, gluten-free, doesn’t contain any GMO products, soy-free, kosher, and vegan.
It is also low-carb and is extremely healthy, especially when you compare it to Nutella. Although it is expensive, the cost is worth it in the end.
It is up to you which nut-free chocolate spread you choose to bring with you to school or give to your child, but all of these Nutella alternatives are relatively healthy and are safe for multiple allergies and dietary restrictions. Before you purchase any of these products, check the ingredients list and make sure it doesn’t contain anything someone in your household is allergic to.
Nutella is an amazing chocolate spread that is loved all over the world, but you can’t bring it on campus at a nut-free school. Luckily, if you don’t go to a nut-free school, you can bring it whenever you want. It is a convenient and delicious snack when paired with crackers or bread. However, you need to make sure that nobody in the room is allergic to hazelnuts before you enjoy your Nutella-filled snack.